Pea-grader.



J. W. TUTTLE.

PEA GRADER. APPLICATION FILED 1150.29, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented July 20, 1915.

WITNESSES J. W. TUTTLE.

PEA GRADER. APPLICATION FILED DEC.29, I914.

Patented July 20, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2- WITNESSES 0A A ,4 7TOR/VEY 1. W.. TUTTLE.

PEA GRADER.

APPLICATION FILED 050.29. 1914.

1,147,283. Patented July 20, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

IN l/E/V TOR WITNESSES 4%. QMZW;

J. w. T UTTLE.

PEA GRADER. v APPLICATION FILED 050.29, 1914.

Patented July 20, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVENTORY w h a. WW

J. W. TUTTLE.

Patented July 20, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5- m. mlrb, i i 1:: a 5 ,fi if r g a? if WITNESSES I v I iUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. TUTTLE, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR '10 SINCLAIR-SCOTTCOMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

PEA-GRADEB.

The object of my invention is to devise a grader, for use in canningfactories, in'which the mass of shelled peas containing berries ofvarioussizes is assortedinto several masses, each of which contains 'peaberries of about the same size, and to devlse a grader of proportionsadequate to do the work on the scale and with the degree of accuracyrequired. Excepting for a small number of such graders as operate on thereciprocating or shaking principle, the apparatus now almost exclusivelyused in this country is built in accordance with the patent of Scott andChisholm, No. 608,230, and consists of a series of axially-alinedrotating zinc cylinders, each provided with perforations of a given sizeand the sizes of the perforations in the several rotating cylindersgradually varying from small in the first to large in the last cylinder.The'objections to this grader are its great length, requiring greatfloor space, and the necessity of sifting out the small peas first whilethese are still mixed in the whole mass. Small pea-s do not get throughthe sieve well at best and when mixed with the larger sizes, whichlatter tend to cover the sieve-perforations, it happens that many smallpeas do not get through the first sieve and that they pass intosucceeding sieves to be ultimately mixed with larger pea sizes. Thisinterferes with accurate grading and reduces the number of the smallestpeas recovered, and yet these bring a much higher rice than the largersizes. .In this connectlon it must be stated that the pea berries, beingsoft, have a tendency to pass into but not through a separating apertureof a trifle smaller size, thus closing the perforations and diminishingthe sifting capacity. This tendency is so marked that it isindispensable to use a continuously active clearing device to force thepeas out of the holes in the rotating cylinder. In the Scott andChisholm apparatus, a longitudinal roller, whose axis is stationary,resting against the outside of the rotating cylinder near its top,forces the imprisoned peas inward to clear the-aperture.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J uly 20, 1915, Applicationfiled December 29, 1914,. Serial No. 879,517.

. Various proposals have been made for telescoping or nesting'theseveral cylinders, one inside the other. This naturally greatlydiminishes the floor space required. Again, it permits the smallest,inner cylinder, into the feed end of which the mass of peas to beassorted is first passed, to have the largest slfting apertures, so thatthe largest peas, WlllCh are still larger than the apertures in thiscylln'der, are first taken out and col.-

lected at the discharge end of this inner cylinder. The mass of peas,withthe largest size removed, gradually drops into the surrounding nextlargest cylinder with next smaller sifting apertures, and the nextsmaller size of peas pass along this cylinder and are gathered at itsdlscharge end. Finally, the smallest peas pass through the sieveperforations of the largest cylinder, where they are mixed with but asingle larger size. This greatly increases the accuracy of the sifting,especially for the smaller and more valuable peas as against the plan ofPatent No. 608,230. But in all such proposals, there has beenacomplication due to supporting and driving the nested cyllnders whenthese were separate, or

could not be successfully built and operated of a size long enough toeffect complete sift ing. For it is to be noticed that,'with the nestedcylinder construction, a certain fairly considerable length of cylinderis necessary not merely to get capacity, but to do the work at all; forthe entire mass of peas 'is passing axially along the cylinders whilethe sorting is proceedlng and the ends of the tions are sufficientlylarge topermit a practically unobstructed passage in each cylinder forthe mass of peas to be separated.

"In actual practice, I take a disk, say five feet in diameter, having aseries of segmental apertures to constitute the passageway for the peas,but leaving a series of conelse the structures were of a character whichnections between the segmental apertures to constitute the centralperforated support for the cylinders, and I mount a set of pairs ofhalf-cylinders, each say five feet long, 9n opposite sides of the disk,the two opposite half cylinders of a pair constituting a single.

cylinder about ten feet long, the adjacent segmental aperture in thedisk constltuting the central passageway for the peas in that cylinderand the metal between the segmental apertures constituting theconnections for the several cylinders of varying sizes. This disk, Imount in an approximately vertical, but slightly tilted, position onrotary travelers, which cause it and the cylinders connected therewithto rotate. The clearing devices are then inserted from each end, all ofwhich will appear in greater detail from the drawin s, in which Figure 1is a longitu inal section through the sifter with the feeding device inelevation; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through theapparatus; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the base frame with the drivingmecha-' nism thereon; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of theconcentric sifting cylinders, with their central support and externaltrack; Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional View,showing the manner of uniting the half-cylinders to the central support;Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, for the purposeof showing the pea-collecting and delivering structure; Fig. ,7 is aplan view of this part of the apparatus; and Fig. 8 is an enlargedcross-section through one of the clearing de vices.

The concentric cylinders are designated 1, 1', 1, 1", and 1,respectively, 1 being the innermost cylinder having the largest openingsand 1 the outermost cylinder with the smallest openings, the othercylinders varying in size and apertures in the order given. The. disk 2,constituting the central support for the cylinders, is formed with.concentric series of segmental openings 3, between which are theconnecting portions 4. As more particularly shown in-Figs. 1 and ,5, thecylinders are preferably formed of alined half sections rigidly securedto opposite sides of the disksby suitable means, such as angles 5riveted to the cylinders and bolted through the disk, and are so formedand arranged in relation to the segmental openings 3 that their innersurfaces are substantially flush with the outer boundaries of thesepassageways. By such a construction the concentric cylinders are unitedinto a firm, rotary structure, and the longitudinal travel of the peasis substantially unimpeded.

The circumferential portion of the disk 2 projects beyond the outsidecylinder, forming in efiect an annular track 6, which manifestly, thoughwith less advantage,

memes might be of a separate piece. By means of this track the rotarysifting structure 1s supported on a pair of travelers or grooved rollers7 and 8, suitably mountedon a base frame 9. of appropriate construction.central superstructure frame 10, whlch is united to the base frame andmay be made of'channeled iron as shown, arches over the cylinderstructure and serves as a support for rollers 11, or other suitableanti-friction devices, which guide the upper portion of the track andthereby keep the structure from tilting.

In use the cylinders are disposed at a slight inclination, as shown inFig. 1, this being conveniently accomplished by placing a block 12beneath the rear portion of the base frame. From the outer ends of thecylinders are supported clearing devices 13, which project inward overthe tops of cylinders-into proximity with the central disk 2. As shownin Fig. 2, these devices are preferably in staggered relation. Thesupports for the clearing devices consist of end frames 1 1, mounted onsuitable portions of the base frame and bearing inwardprojectingmandrels 15, on which the clearing rollers are rotatably supported. Asmore'particularly shown in Figs. 1 and 8, the said rollers are eachformed in a plurality of individual sections, the openings in which arematerially larger than the mandrel, so that the sections may haveindividual eccentric movement, thereby increasing their efiectivenessand reducing the danger of crushing the imprisoned peas. At the upper orentrance ends of the cylinders is a feeding device 16, the constructionof which may be varied. In the particular instance shown, it consists ofa rotary drum, which is likewise slightly tilted and is provided at theside adjacent the cylinders with internal buckets 17. These elevate thepeas placed in the drum and deposit them in a chute 18 mounted on thesupporting frame of the cylinders and delivering into the end of thesmallest cylinder 1. The feeding drum is mounted on pairs of supportingand driving rollers 19 and 20 journaled on a frame 21, and in order topermit free access to the ends of the cylinders, for cleaning, thisframe is made separable from the cylinder structure frame, beingpreferably connectible therewith, as indicated at 22, and having wheels23 facilitating its removal and replacement.

At the outer ends of the cylinders is a collecting and deliverystructure designated generally by the reference character 24. Th sstructure receives and delivers the peas which fail to pass through thesifting openmgs in the respective cylinders, and, like the feedingdevice, is removable from the cylinders for cleaning purposes. Itcomprises a base plate 26 with a central aperture 27 or,

llSQ

discharge ends thereof. Exten from y and secured to the opposite'face oft e base plate or plates 26 and through the aperture 27 are a series ofsuitable sheet metal walls forming discharge chutes 28, each wall beingconnected to the bottom of a segmental trough in the region where thiscrosses the aperture 27. The set of discharge chutes thus formed isnarrower than the nest of collecting'troughs. These chutes 28 terminatein laterally extended spouts 30, which are arranged in two spacedlongitudinal series. It will .be furthermore noticed that I make thebottoms of the outer troughs 26 straight across or on a less curve thanthe sides.

The troughs 25 and the chutes 28, into which they deliver, serve thecylinders 1, 1", 1 and 1 The peas passing from the end of the outermostcylinder 1 are received by a chute 28", which is formed between the wall26 and a back wall 29. This chute also terminates in one of the spouts30. The rearedges of the troughs 25 are provided with flanges 31, whichproject upward in rear of angle-iron flanges 32 on the ends of the cyliners, so as to prevent escape of peas. The wall 29 is likewise providedwith a lip or flange 31 for similar coiiperation with a flange on thelarger cylinder 1. As shown in Fig. 6, the uppermost or smallest trough25 may be formed on a circular are, but the larger troughs preferablyhave angularly formed walls 33, in order to insure the delivery of peasto the openings 27. This is because walls formed on the arcs of largercircles would be liable to permit the peas to pile up and choke.

The peas which pass through the openings of the outermost cylinder arereceived in a trough 35, the bottom of which is formed by an apron 36,which passes over a roller 37 near the rear end of the sifter frame andextends forward to a roller 38 on a forward extension of the frame.The-apron as thus disposed passes in intermediate relation to the twosets of laterally spaced spouts 30 and delivers to a hopper 39 and spout40 carried by the frame extension beyond the other spouts.

Power is received for driving the machine by a pulley 41 fast on a shaft42, which, through bevel gears 43, drives a longitudinal countershaft44. The said shaft 44bears the traveler 8 and also a sprocket wheel 45,from which a chain 46 drives a sprocket 47 secured to the shaft 48 ofthe other traveler 7. .At an intermediate point this sprocket passes inengagement with an idler 49, located centrally below the siftincylinders. The shaft 44 extendsttflthe fee ing end of the sifting frame,is there provided with a sprocket wheel 50, which, by means of a chain51, drives sprockets .52 and 53 on the shafts of I the feed cylinderrollers 19 and 20. A sprocket wheel 54 on the shaft 42 connects with asprocket 55 ona cross-shaft 56, which carries a sprocket wheel 57 todrive the apipn 36, being for this'purpose connected by a chain58 with asprocket wheel. 59 on the journal extension of the roller 38. The

removable collecting and delivery structure 24 may be supported on theframe by suitable brackets,'as indicated at 60 in Fig. 6, and itsremoval facilitated b the provision of appropriate handles 61. hepurpose of staggering the clearin devices 13 is to prevent a pea berrywhic is pressed out. of an aperture in-one cylinder from fallingimmediately in front of a clearing device on the next cylinder and thusbeing crushed.

What is claimed as new is: 1. A green pea grader comprising a diskhaving segmental apertures concentric one with the other, and siftingcylinders mounted one within the other on opposite sides of the disk inrespective alinement with the several apertures, substantially asdescribed.

2.- A green pea grader comprising a" set of open-ended sifting cylindersdisposed one within the other and havinga central support rigidlyconnecting them, an external circular track surrounding and secured tothe cylinders at their center, and a rotary support for the externaltrack, substantially as described.

3. A green pea grader comprising a disk having concentric segmentalapertures andan external circular track, a set of concentric siftingcylinders supported on opposite sides of the disk, and travelers forrotatably supporting the track and structure, substantially asdescribed. I

4. A green pea grader comprising a disk having concentric segmentalapertures and an external circular track, a set of concentric siftingcylinders supported-on'opposite sides of the disk, travelers on whichthe track rests below, and a pair of guide rollers above for holding thestructure against displacement, substantially as described.

5. A green pea grader comprising a set of open-ended concentric siftingcylinders having a central support rigidly connecting 6. A green peagrader comprising a set of concentric sifting cylinders, the outermostcylinder having the finest perforations, collecting devices at thedischarge ends of the several cylinders to receive from each the peaswhich fail to pass through the openings thereof, a longitudinal troughbelow the outer cylinder, and a single longitudinall movable apron inthe bottom of said troug beneath said outermost cylinder for collectingonly the smallest peas namely those which pass through the openings ofsaid outer cylinder, the delivery end of said apron conducting thesmallest peas to the discharge end of the outermost cylinder.

7. A green pea grader comprisinga set of concentric sifting cylindershaving outwardly projecting flanges at their discharge ends, a connectedset of segmental collecting troughs mounted in juxtaposition to thedischarge ends cf the several cylinders, said trough having flangeswhich project upward behind the flanges on the cylinders, and dischargechutes respectivel connecting with the several troughs, su stantially asde scribed. g v

8. A green pea grader comprising a set'of concentric sifting cylinders,an apertured plate at one end thereof, segmental collecting troughssecured to said plate at one side and juxtaposed to the discharge endsof the cylinders, and discharge chutes also secured to said plate andextending from the opposite side thereof and connecting with the troughsthrough the aperture, substantially as described.

9. A green pea grader comprising a set of concentric sifting cylinders,a nest of segmental collecting troughs, one within another, mounted injustaposition to the discharge ends of the several cylinders andextending up on the sides thereof, a plate uniting said troughs andforming a front wall therefor, said plate being open down the middle topermit the escape. of peas from the troughs, and discharge chutesalsounited to said plate and connecting severally with the troughsthrough the open portion of the plate.

10. A green pea grader comprising a set of concentric siftingcylinders,in combination with a nest of segmental collecting troughs, one withinthe other, mounted in juxtaposition to the dischar e ends of the severalcylinders and exten 'ng up on the sides thereof, and a set of dischargechutes infront of and narrower than the nest of segmental troughs withwhich the chutes communicate, said troughs and chutes being unitedtogether and removable from the cylinders. v

11. A green pea grader comprising a set of concentric sifting cylinders,means for receiving and delivering the peas from the discharge ends ofthe several cylinders, said memes means terminating in separatedischarge spouts arranged in two laterally spaced sets, and a conveyerfor receiving the peas passing through the openings of the largestcylinder, said conveyer extending longitudinally in intermediaterelation to said discharge spouts, substantially as described.

12. A green pea grader comprising a set of concentric sifting cylinders,means for receiving and delivering the peas from the discharge ends ofthe several cylinders, said means terminating in separate dischargespouts arranged in two laterally spaced sets, and a conveyer forreceiving the peas passing through the openings ofthe largest cylinder,said conveyer extending longitudinally in intermediate relation to saiddischarge spouts and deliverin to a spout at the remote end of the sets0 lateral spouts, substantially as described. 1

13. A green pea grader comprising a base frame, a set of concentricsifting cylinders having a central support rigidly connecting them, anexternal circular track surrounding and secured; to the cylinders attheir center, rollers for-"sup orting the track on the base frame,jasuper tructureframe mounted 'on the baseframe and extending over the setof cylinders, and rollers on said superstructure frame engaging thetrack and holding the cylinder structure against displacement,substantially as described.

14A. green pea grader comprising a base frame, a set of concentricsiftingcylinders havinga central support rigidly connecting them, anexternal circular track surround-' ing and secured to the cylinders attheir center, rollers for supporting the track on the base frame, asuperstructure frame mounted ter, rollers for supporting the track onthe set. of cylinders, rollers on said superstructure frame engaging thetrack and holding the cylinder structure against displacement, endframes rising from the base frame, and sets of clearing devicesprojecting into the sifting cylinders from said end frames,substantially as described.

15. A green pea grader comprising a set of concentric sifting. cylindershaving a central support rigidly connecting them, an external circulartrack' surrounding and secured to the cylinders. at their center, arotatingsupport for the external track, and sets of clearing devicesprojecting into the sifting cylinders from each end, said clearingdevices comprising supportingmandrels and rollers mounted on saidmandrels and consisting of independent sections having openingssubstantially larger than the mandrels and capable of individualeccentric movement thereon, substantially as de scribed.

16. A green pea grader comprising a base frame, travelers thereon, a setof concentric sifting cylinders having a central connecting support anda central external track bearing on said travelers, a longitudinal shaftbear- V ing one of said travelers and a sprocket, a sprocket on theother traveler, an intermediate idler beneath the cylinders, means fordriving the longitudinal shaft, and a chain passing around saidsprockets and in engagement with said idler, substantially as described.

17. A green pea grader comprising a base frame, travelers thereon, a setof concentric sifting cylinders having a central connecting support anda central external track bearing on said travelers, a longitudinal shaftbearing one of said travelers and a sprocket, a sprocket on the othertraveler, an intermediate idler beneath the cylinders, means for drivingthe longitudinal shaft, a chain passing aroundsaid sprockets and inengagesaid feeding device from said longitudinal V shaft, substantiallyas described.

18. A green ea grader, comprising a set of concentric si ting cylindershaving a central support, and sets of clearing devices projecting overthe several cylinders from their opposite ends, said clearing devicesbeing in staggered relation, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnessesl JAMES w. TUTTLE.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK W. Gmss, MAUI) V. ROBERTS.

